Openings Rare first moves
Rare First Moves: 1.c3, 1.a3, 1.f3, 1.h3, 1.h4 and More
Every first move has a name. These are rare because they do little for the center or development, but none of them loses by force. Against all of them the simple recipe works: take the center with ...e5 or ...d5, develop and castle.
A00Saragossa Opening
Games from this position (1600–1999): 13k
- 1.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28% | 3,649 | ||
| 27% | 3,476 | ||
| 10% | 1,295 | ||
| 8% | 1,077 | ||
| 8% | 1,027 | ||
| 5% | 622 | ||
| 5% | 610 | ||
| 3% | 388 | ||
| 2% | 312 | ||
| 2% | 202 | ||
| 1% | 136 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 1.c3 and 1.a3 are the most useful: they can turn into a reversed Caro-Kann, a 1.d4 system or an English with a3.
- 1.f3 (the Barnes) loosens the e1–h4 diagonal; after 1...e5 avoid g4 and Kf2 adventures.
- After wing moves like 1.a4, 1.h4 and 1.h3, continue with a normal setup such as d4, Nf3 and e3.
Black
- 1...e5 or 1...d5 and quick development is enough against every move here.
- Do not copy White’s odd move; use the extra time in the center.
- Against 1.f3, ...e5 and ...d5 build a big center, and ...Qh4+ ideas appear if White loosens g3.
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Rare First Moves at each rating
How often the position after 1.c3 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 9,1520.3% | 1...e544% | |
| 1200–1599 | 13k0.2% | 1...e539% | |
| 1600–1999 | 13k0.2% | 1...e528% | |
| 2000+ | 3,7730.2% | 1...d526% | |
| All | 38k0.2% | 1...e535% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
White prepares d4 with pawn support; after 1...e5 2.d4 exd4 3.cxd4 d5 the center is symmetrical.
20k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 49%, 5% were drawn, Black won 46%.
Show on the board: 1.c3 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.cxd4 d5A waiting move. With c4 it becomes an English with a3 already played.
2,602 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 4% were drawn, Black won 46%.
Show on the board: 1.a3 e5 2.c4A joke line seen in online blitz. White scores about 44% after it, and about 37% below 1200.
630 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 40%, 6% were drawn, Black won 54%.
Show on the board: 1.f3 e5 2.Kf2Below 1200 White scores about 43% with it; at 2000+ about 59%, with many draws.
12k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 44%, 6% were drawn, Black won 51%.
Show on the board: 1.h3The rook can come out via a3, but the move does nothing for the center. White scores about 44% overall.
13k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 41%, 6% were drawn, Black won 53%.
Show on the board: 1.a4After 1.c3 the most played move on this page, with about 19,000 games; White scores about 44%.
19k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 40%, 7% were drawn, Black won 53%.
Show on the board: 1.h4The knight heads for c4 or b5. It is the rarest move on this page, with under 2,000 games.
1,886 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 40%, 7% were drawn, Black won 54%.
Show on the board: 1.Na3The knight heads for f4. White scores about 42% overall, the lowest result on this page.
3,956 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 38%, 8% were drawn, Black won 54%.
Show on the board: 1.Nh3
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At club level
Below 1200 every move on this page scores under 50% for White, from about 37% with 1.Na3 to about 49% with 1.c3. At 2000+ most of them score over 50%, and 1.h3 scores about 59%: strong players who choose these moves know what they are doing. 1.c3 is the most played of them, with about 38,000 games here.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.